Apple is gearing up for a monster holiday season with a total of 8 new products reportedly set to go on sale, including a new iPhone, a smaller iPad, new iPods and updated Macs.

Ming-Chi Kuo with KGI Securities indicated on Friday that Apple's new product launch schedule for the fourth quarter of 2012 will be jam-packed with new devices. Chief among them is the so-called "iPhone 5," which Apple is expected to unveil at a media event on Sept. 12.

According to Kuo, September is also likely to see the unveiling of a 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display, a new iPod touch, and a new 21.5-inch iMac.

Then, in October, reports have indicated that Apple is planning to hold a second media event at which it will unveil a smaller iPad with a 7.85-inch display. Joining the so-called "iPad mini" in October, according to Kuo, will be a new iPod nano, a "modified new iPad," and a new 27-inch iMac.

Apple's crowded fall lineup is a result of some component and assembly issues that the company allegedly experienced with new products earlier in the year. Kuo indicated that some products were intended for release late in the second quarter or early in the third quarter of 2012, but production problems led to internal delays.

With the new iPhone, Kuo said the main issue has been with assembly of the device. He said the in-cell touch panels that Apple is expected to utilize for the next iPhone have not been an issue for production.

As for the "iPad mini," Apple has reportedly seen production yield issues with a "very thin panel module" being utilized in the new device.

As for the "new iPad" that Apple is apparently planning to launch, Kuo said the hardware will look largely identical to the current model. He said the most noticeable change will be adoption of the new 9-pin dock connector Apple is expected to feature in the new iPhone, iPod touch and iPad mini.

The new iPod touch and iPod nano will also feature new panel technology and sport all-new designs this year, according to Kuo. In particular, the new iPod nano is expected to feature wireless connectivity that will allow it to download content from the iTunes Store and iCloud.

The difficulty in placing a Wi-Fi chip inside of the new iPod nano is likely what caused an internal delay for that product, Kuo said. He believes the problem has been resolved, allowing Apple to launch the product in mid-October.

Finally, as for the new Mac hardware, Kuo said the 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display will feature an all-new design and an entry price between $1,100 and $1,300. He expects strong demand for the new notebook will make it difficult for Apple to meet market demand prior to mid or late October.

The new iMac will not have a Retina display this year, however, he said. The all-in-one desktop is expected to be updated with a new design that will improve display quality.

"Apple has demanded full-lamination between the panel and the cover glass," Kuo wrote. "Lamination for the relatively large 27-inch panel comes with a lower yield, so we expect the 27-inch iMac to trail 21.5-inch iMac by 6-8 weeks in hitting the marketplace."

Damn. No doubt Apple is going to crush all previous earning/sales records this Holiday quarter. I mean, crush. Might very well be the best quarter of any company in history. Or have they already accomplished that? I forget. Either way it should be epic, and I expect the stock to follow suit.

The entire housing is metal, and the screen has metal shielding behind it. It's basically a tiny metal box, the absolute worst possible form factor for Wi-Fi reception. It's also so small that even if they find a way to put an antenna inside that actually has some reception, it's likely to lose that reception as it moves around the Wi-Fi zone in that it would be much more susceptible to skip and interference from even small metallic objects in the room with it.

The entire housing is metal, and the screen has metal shielding behind it. It's basically a tiny metal box, the absolute worst possible form factor for Wi-Fi reception. It's also so small that even if they find a way to put an antenna inside that actually has some reception, it's likely to lose that reception as it moves around the Wi-Fi zone in that it would be much more susceptible to skip and interference from even small metallic objects in the room with it.

The entire housing is metal, and the screen has metal shielding behind it. It's basically a tiny metal box, the absolute worst possible form factor for Wi-Fi reception. It's also so small that even if they find a way to put an antenna inside that actually has some reception, it's likely to lose that reception as it moves around the Wi-Fi zone in that it would be much more susceptible to skip and interference from even small metallic objects in the room with it.

You're assuming that it will stay all metal. If they give it Wi-Fi, they'll redesign it so housing isn't all metal.

Where is the Mac Mini in all of this?? The current one is well over a year old and needs a refresh too. On top of that B&H Photo has constrained availability on some models lately.

I have a feeling it's coming but as has been said before, it will be updated quietly. My optimism is starting to grow upon hearing these rumors since we're not hearing about stupid lawsuit garbage for the time being.

OMG!! So many electronic goodies!!! I have my wallet at the ready. My sights are trained and my hands are in position to swipe. On September 12th I will have my 2010 MBP in front of me to preorder as much gadget goodness as they introduce. There has been a drought in the land. I will dance in the Apple rain when it comes. At least as long as nothing big drops on my head. LOL.

I’d have doubted a tweak to the iPad 3, but keeping a consistent dock connector makes sense. (They might even tweak the iPad 2! Probably not—just drop it and let the Mini fill in the bottom end for now.)

WiFi in the iPod nano. That's interesting. Guess you'll be able to sync it with iCloud.

Of course what would be really interesting is if they brought Siri to it. An internet connection would make that a possibility and the ability to operate such a small product with voice would be very useful. Although the need to be within range of a WiFi network is a serious limitation.

I'm not sure how the retinal display MacBook Pro is going to be priced at $1100. The current unit starts at $1199. In the 15", the entry unit is $1799, but the entry retina is $2199. If the retina 13" comes in at $1100, that would mean Apple would have to severely drop the price of the 15". It would be hard to justify paying double the price for a machine 2 inches bigger.

I would think that Apple will announce the various iMac models and availability will be determined based on screen size. I don't think Apple will announce iMacs on two different dates just because one isn't as readily available if it is only a month later in terms of shipment dates. The 13inch MBPR is more than a 30 day delay, so I would assume that that would require a separate announcement.

I am still hoping for an iPod classic redesign... Been holding off in purchasing old technology... Just need the 160gb but hate the old style OS on it.

Not only is this unlikely, it's quite likely that this is the very event in which the classic will be put out to pasture for good. I'm pretty sure that all the sales of all the "non-touch" iPods combined doesn't even equal the sales of the nano, which itself is the slowest selling of all the touch based models.

Where is the Mac Mini in all of this?? The current one is well over a year old and needs a refresh too. On top of that B&H Photo has constrained availability on some models lately.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Winter

I have a feeling it's coming but as has been said before, it will be updated quietly. My optimism is starting to grow upon hearing these rumors since we're not hearing about stupid lawsuit garbage for the time being.

Retina Cinema is likely the gating factor. they've got to get the iMac's and Mac Pro out first and a RD display. The mini is that uber niche product (people too small to need a Mac Pro, too 'PCified' to go with the iMac, or likely have a MacBookAir/Pro for 'most of their computing) so I can see why they will tail end the update.

You're assuming that it will stay all metal. If they give it Wi-Fi, they'll redesign it so housing isn't all metal.

I'm not saying it's impossible. Just that I have doubts as to how easy this would be to do, and also what the point of it would be.

I would expect it will get Bluetooth 4 which will be far more useful than Wi-Fi. I mean all Wi-Fi would do for it as a music player is allow you to stream rather than load the music onto it, but in most of the situations where the nano would actually be used, Wi-Fi isn't going to be available. Even if it is, how do you join the network at the Gym or the coffee shop? How do you type in the password or authorise it with your credit card like a lot of places make you? And if you are instead exercising in your living room at home, why not just turn on the radio?

I just don't think a good reason for the nano to get Wi-Fi has really been elucidated yet even though lots of folks assume it will get it. It makes much more sense to me for it to focus on connecting to your phone seamlessly with Bluetooth and using the communications capabilities on the phone.

I’d have doubted a tweak to the iPad 3, but keeping a consistent dock connector makes sense. (They might even tweak the iPad 2! Probably not—just drop it and let the Mini fill in the bottom end for now.)

As the iPad 2 is still outselling the new iPad, and seems to be critical in the education market, I don't foresee Apple dropping that form factor at that price point. Who knows what they'll do in regards to the connector, though.

I'm suspicious about Apple releasing different form factors in the same family at different times, at least so close together. For example, releasing an updated 21.5 inch iMac and then the 27 inch one month later? That makes no sense

What does make sense is Apple changing every device using the 30 pin connector over to the new 9 pin in as short a time as possible. Holiday sales of new accessories will be icing on the cake of another blowout financial performance.

Crikey. I'm going to go broke. Don't see a mac pro in here. Thought Tim promised us one (although maybe I remembering it slipped to 2013.)

The rumor about the nano going to a non-wristwatch size is troublesome. Seems like that would be a sign AAPL is abandoing that market to the other makers - Pebble etc. A full up, touchscreen watch size *iOS6 capable* nano would be a killer. Apps for that would go nuts. Don't see a use for a pocket sized one like the old mini.

The entire housing is metal, and the screen has metal shielding behind it. It's basically a tiny metal box, the absolute worst possible form factor for Wi-Fi reception. It's also so small that even if they find a way to put an antenna inside that actually has some reception, it's likely to lose that reception as it moves around the Wi-Fi zone in that it would be much more susceptible
to skip and interference from even small metallic objects in the room with it.

No new Mac mini or Mac Pro, when this is technically the first quarter of 2013 for Apple?

The Retina Display 27" will force Apple to put an AMD 7000 series GPGPU in the Mini and that level in the Mac Pro or the option of an equivalent Nvidia box leaving the Intel 4000 out of the picture. For it to be a true 4K panel the only GPGPU that supports that is from AMD starting with the 7750 and up.

Retina Cinema is likely the gating factor. they've got to get the iMac's and Mac Pro out first and a RD display. The mini is that uber niche product (people too small to need a Mac Pro, too 'PCified' to go with the iMac, or likely have a MacBookAir/Pro for 'most of their computing) so I can see why they will tail end the update.

OMG!! So many electronic goodies!!! I have my wallet at the ready. My sights are trained and my hands are in position to swipe. On September 12th I will have my 2010 MBP in front of me to preorder as much gadget goodness as they introduce. There has been a drought in the land. I will dance in the Apple rain when it comes. At least as long as nothing big drops on my head. LOL.

Nothing personal intended... but your name made me laugh... reminded me of an old friend: Cojones.

"Swift generally gets you to the right way much quicker." - auxio -

"The perfect [birth]day -- A little playtime, a good poop, and a long nap." - Tomato Greeting Cards -

Apple should have focussed in bringing different models of the iPhone. That where the money is. They should have kept the same aspect ratio and produced 4.0-4.5", 4.5-5" versions, in addition to the 3.5" version. Just 1 color to simplify inventory and only 2 memory choices. The smartphone market is huge and different people want different sizes. They boxy design in uncomfortable to hold... need something ergonomic and easy to hold like the 3GS model.

Apple is not going to win in the courthouse, unless they can deliver a knock-out blow to Google/Android - not likely. At worst, Google will pay a multi-billion fine and modify Android so as not to infringe. Meanwhile, Samsung comes up with new models before the courts can even deal with the old models.

Apple has to innovate to compete with the entire Android value chain. They take 1+ years to come with a new iPhone model and they look like the old iPhone!!! Management is becoming are too fat, dumb and happy now.